Next Chapter Meetings

• February 11 is our next meeting will feature John Gorentz on “Travels with Noonday”, a history of Chief Noonday, who lived in this area, and is the source of our Chapter’s name.  John is an amateur historian with broad knowledge of historical Indian travel patterns in the Midwest. 

• On March 10 we will be meeting again, with a program to be announced. 

• On April 14, in a schedule revision, Katie Brandt will return with a presentation on spring plantings, and ways to add to the beauty of the North Country Trail. 

• Meetings are at 7:00pm at the Barry Township Hall on Orchard Street in Delton on the second Wednesday each month, and are open to the public.  For directions and a map, click here.

Winter Hike February 21 near Middleville

Our winter hike will be held February 21 on a section of trail we are scouting northeast of Middleville.  This section is about 2.8 miles, and will take about 1.5 hours depending on snow depth.  We will hold it snow, rain, or shine.  We will meet at 9am for the hike on Crane road near the little league fields (which are hidden from view) and then position cars.  To get there, go east from M-37 on Main Street (the stop light) in Middleville to Grand Rapids Street, go north 0.8 miles on Grand Rapids Street, which changes to Whitneyville Road, and then turn east on Crane Road and go about 0.7 miles to starting point.  For those wishing to join us for breakfast, we will meet at 8am at the Thornapple Kitchen, which is 0.3 miles north of the light in Middleville on M-37.  For any questions, call Larry Pio at 269-327-3589, or email at nalcoman1@aol.com.

Work Day February 28 (Gull Lake area)

We have some trees down between 40th Street and M-89, and will work on them on February 28.  We will meet at the Hickory Cafe; 14576 S.  Kellogg School Road in downtown Hickory Corners for breakfast at 8 a.m., and head to the trail crossing on C Avenue east of 40th Street at 9am Contact Tom Garnett with any questions at 269-382-2561, or by email at GarnettT@trinityhealth.org  For directions and a map, click here.

Reminder:  National Trails Day is June 5

Please Post

Please consider putting our newsletter on your bulletin board at work, or in a public location to help promote our chapter activities. 

Fort Custer Cemetery Trail Dedication on May 1

On May 1, we will have a dedication ceremony for our new section of trail in the Fort Custer Cemetery located between Battle Creek and Augusta followed by a hike.  More details later.

Work Crew Leader Wanted

We have been building and maintaining trail without a crew leader for some time now, but that position is still open and we need a candidate.  Please contact Tom Garnett on this opening, by calling 269 / 382-2561 or by email at GARNETTT@trinity-health.org

Report on Work Session January 17 (Battle Creek area)

Tom Momenee, Maggie Momenee, Tom McCarty, Jerry Pattok, Charles Krammin, Tom Garnett, Larry Pio, and Larry Hawkins all participated in the work session in January.  Most of the crew scouted for alternatives around the new beaver pond in Kimball Pines, and then we installed some carsonite posts in that area to improve the ability to locate the trail in that area.  Dr. Hawkins added some materials to the new kiosks at Fort Custer, and worked on the new kiosks at the Hutchinson parking lot in Augusta.

New Newsletter Editor Soon

I am pleased to announce we will soon have a new newsletter editor.  Linda Warren, with assistance from Jim Warren, will begin writing the newsletter in March.  Please welcome them into this position, and submit your info to them for inclusion in the newsletter.  I will continue to keep track of email addresses, mailing addresses, etc.  for the time being.  We will publish their email address soon.  Thanks Linda and Jim.

Report on Katie Brandt presentation

In January, Katie Brandt, who serves as Groundwater Steward on the West Michigan Environmental Action Council (http://www.wmeac.org/) gave an informative presentation on tips to minimize risk to our groundwater, along with some resource materials (including a resource recovery directory for Barry & Eaton Counties).  The WMEAC web site tells more.

NCTA Publishes New North Country Trail (NCT) Book

Two years in the making, Hikeable Segments of the North Country National Scenic Trail, is now available out of Lowell for only $5.95 plus shipping.  (Call toll free at 866-HIKENCT to order, or order over the internet by clicking here).  While it is not intended to be a guidebook, it does provide an overview of all the off-road segments of the trail.  You’ll find information on what maps are available, how many miles are continuous, how far to the next segment, and who to contact for more information.

Blood Drive at Kellogg Biological Station near Gull Lake

The American Red Cross and Michigan State University's W.K. Kellogg Biological Station (KBS) are looking for 30 donors to give the gift of life at a blood drive on Wednesday, February 11 at the KBS Education Center located at 3700 East Gull Lake Drive, Hickory Corners, Michigan.  The drive will be open to the public from noon to 5:45pm in Room 201 of the Station’s Academic Building.

New Members

The following are new members of our Chapter; please join me in extending a welcome to all of them:

• Kingery Clingenpeel – Battle Creek
• Kellie Cody – Augusta
• Susan Hollar – Kalamazoo
• Edgar Palmer – East Lansing

Valentine’s Day Dinner at Kellogg Biological Station

Treat your special someone to a unique Valentine’s Day dinner on Saturday, February 14 at 7pm at the MSU Kellogg Biological Station’s historic W.K. Kellogg Manor House, located on Gull Lake in Hickory Corners, Michigan.  Former estate of the Kellogg Company founder, W.K. Kellogg, the Manor House is located on picturesque Gull Lake and was recently restored to its original grandeur, creating a unique and unforgettable setting for dinner with your Valentine.  Candlelight dinner includes appetizer, salad, entrée and desert.  Dinner price is $75 per couple, which includes tax and gratuity.  For more information or to make a reservation, please call the KBS Conference Center at 269-671-2400.  Reservations are required.

The Kellogg Biological Station hosts part of our chapter’s trail

See more of their events, including a Chocolate Tea on February 17 and a Winter Tree Identification Workshop on Feb 28, at www.kbs.msu.edu

Newsletter Editor:  Larry Pio   nalcoman1@aol.com